Houston voted as the 9th most expensive city to live in the US

I never really knew. I just figured if I was making another 25% in salary in a cheaper city, that I'd have money left over at the end of the month, and I never did. I think I actually posted here about the experience at the time, lol. My wife probably spent the extra at Target.

 

HAHA!

 

There is an interesting divide I've noticed when it comes to spending which is that if there is something necessary it can come fairly cheap since there is very high demand. But the same item brought to the level of luxury creates an enormous price difference. For example, a sink faucet seems to be under $50 for a bottom of the line Home Depot model or you can pay over a thousand. But there is a break of maybe a hundred dollars between the simple cheap faucet and the nicer ones.
I think this phenomenon accounts for a lot of the discrepency between being one of the cheapest and most expensive cities in the country. We have a large number of poor people in Houston as well as a large number of very wealthy people and both markets need to be accomodated. If I go out and grab a lunch I am usually just hungry and on the road so a $2.50 vietnamese sandwich is a great option. If an executive goes out to lunch it is likely a business lunch that will cost him or her nearly $100 (depending on how much they drink). Likewise, I shop at HEB, they are likely to shop at Central Market and Whole Foods (not to mention they aren't doing the shopping personally).
Notice that Houston is at the bottom of the top ten. Most smaller cities like Chattanooga, don't have Central Market-like options because there isn't a large enough market for it. They may have one or two very nice restaurants but those tend to be much cheaper than our high end restaurants - cheap enough that many could afford it for a nice occasion.

 

On the plus side, we have more stuff

 

About 2 years ago we considered a move to various cities and I included Houston in the list.

Houston was, to us, much higher cost of living then the west coast (except for the purchase price of a house). Property taxes, energy, transportation (need for, and use of cars), and entertainment were much more then I thought they would be. Houston, for us, would have been a higher cost place to live then Vancouver, Seattle, or Portland.

 

Which one of those places did you finally move to? I basically have narrowed down the place I want to move to next- to one of those three places. I've never visited Portland though, but I hear alot of good things about it.

 

Didn't move. Wife nixed the idea .

I was, and still am in Vancouver. San Fran tempted me big time.

 

I admit I'm not too familiar with the home prices in the cities you mentioned, but I don't know how those other factors would make up for the difference in home costs if you're talking about having the exact same home in both areas. Seems like the home costs would trump everything.

 

Burn rate vs 'investment' DCKid. If you can swing the home price, it retains its value (recent yrs not withstanding), or at least its comparative value to other places. Just one way of looking at it. The annual cost for us to maintain our lifestyle in other cities surprised me. Your mileage may vary.

Probably enough of a derail (although Mrs JV started it!). Just my impressions. Often the cities rated 'high cost' on lists can be comparable to those listed 'low cost' when you factor in regional lifestyle.

 

If you need info about living in Portland, let me know. I was raised in Houston and when I turned 25 I moved to Porland. I've been here almost 19 years now and wouldn't consider leaving.